30 Mai 2012

Virdia opens cellulosic sugar demo plant

New Facility to convert cellulosic biomass to high quality fermentable sugars, lignin is operating since late April

The aim is to demonstrate the company’s concentrated-acid-solvent-extraction (CASE) process at pilot scale and produce cellulosic sugar and lignin samples. The process converts biomass to sugars and lignin that serve as intermediaries for renewable chemicals and biofuels, the company claims.

Earlier this year, Virdia had raised roughly $20 mln in equity from investors such as Khosla Ventures and Burrill & Co. and $10 mln in debt from TriplePoint Capital. It also snagged a package of $75 mln in loans and up to $155 mln in tax breaks over 10 years from the state of Mississippi to build sugar processing plants.